Just lowered my car, got pics and a question...

[dandingo]

So I just lowered my car with Vogtland Springs and Bilstein Sports. Man, quite a bit of work for a couple weeknights. Anyway, I know it needs to settle some but right after I finished I took it around the neighborhood to hit a few dips to help it settle.

I hit one dip and after the car started pulling to the left like the alignment was way off. Then I hit a second and it started pulling to the right. Then a third and it started going straight again.

I'm hoping it's just settling but has anyone else had a similar experience? I'm gonna retighten everything tomorrow morning just to make sure. Anyway, on to the pics...

before...

after...

before...

after...

and a few more afters...

[vlad]

what color is that?

[golde30]

battleship grey?

take the spring pads out in front, will give you a better stance. PS: i lol'd at the after pic with the busted lip.

[dandingo]

It's supposed to be Lachssilber Metallic but the original owner had a 1 day job put on and it ruined it.

[dandingo]

battleship grey?

take the spring pads out in front, will give you a better stance. PS: i lol'd at the after pic with the busted lip.

Yeah, I need to get some zip ties.

Doesn't the car squeak with the pads out? I don't know if I'm up for taking everything apart again just to get them out.

[golde30]

just jack up the car, and cut them out.

[dandingo]

So are my weird alignment problems normal? Will it straighten out in a few days? I'm gonna get her aligned next week.

[z31maniac]

Barely looks like its lowered. If you hadn't had before and after pics I wouldn't have noticed.

[Erik]

So are my weird alignment problems normal? Will it straighten out in a few days? I'm gonna get her aligned next week.

anytime you swap suspension you need to get an alignment after it's done.

[dandingo]

anytime you swap suspension you need to get an alignment after it's done.

Yeah I know. I always do. I was referring to what I said at the top.

[Erik]

Yeah I know. I always do. I was referring to what I said at the top.

Well in that case... The only answer I would have is, "It's an E30, anything can happen."

[Jhonno]

Sounds like something is loose..

The moar gravities affecting your lip also is not cool

[brodee]

usually when a car pulls one way and then the other and has a hard time centering it's because it's towed out. Even a slight tow out by about 1/8" will cause it. I'm guessing that your car is more around 1/4" out though. You can try to move each tie rod end in by about 1/8"-1/16" to see if it helps, but I'd highly recommend you just go get it aligned. All they can set is the tow so it's cheap to just get a 2-wheel alignment.

and +1 on pulling the spring pads, it shouldn't squeek, I rarely run pads and don't have issues. I know the first time you do suspension it feels like an ordeal, but it's really not that bad. I can do full front and back struts and springs in under an hour and a half now.

[8atman]

anytime you swap suspension you need to get an alignment after it's done.

AMEN.

[TwoJ's]

Yeah, you should seriously get an alignment before you drive any kind of distance. If it is off by too much, you will wear out your tires extremely fast. Like brodee already said, if the toe is off you will get a lot of bump/slope steer. Since toe is the only thing that's adjustable, you can do a temporary alignment yourself, but it's probably best if you get it on a rack and have it done properly.